Report: Illegal raves in the UK rose by nine percent last year
The number of illegal raves hosted in the UK increased by nine percent between 2016 and 2017, according to a new report from Sky News. The source collected FOI responses from 14 regional police forces based in England and Wales, to determine that more than 680 unlicensed music events took place in the UK in 2017, as compared to the 628 of 2016. The exact number of illegal raves that occurred in the UK in 2017, however, is likely to surpass even the 680 currently on record, given that Sky News’ report only surveyed figures from the forces that provided the source with their respective numbers, equating to 14 of the 45 total territorial police forces in England and Wales.
Metropolitan Police intelligence unit SCO-36 found that the number of illegal raves in London also followed an upward trajectory, with unlicensed music events doubling in the city since 2016. Police officials speculate that the increasing expenses at licensed music venues could be partly responsible for the growing number of illegal raves. Information from data firm CGA shows that London nightclubs became scarcer between 2014 and 2017, falling by a total of eight percent. The decline in nightlife venue choices could very well be a key influence in the prevalence of unlicensed music events.
H/T: Mixmag
Categories: News